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mm 4.14 mm A U DN ATTORNEY' 5 Sheets-Sheet l Mg/M P GRABINSKI CABLE CONNECTOR March 3, 1953 F'lled Aprll 19, 1948 INVENTOR. P14/Ku M45/5w BY ATTORNEYS 3 Sheets-SheefI 2 P GRABINSKI CABLE CONNECTOR March 3, 1953 Flled Aprll 19. 1948 March 3, 1953 P, GRABlNsKl 2,630,074

CABLE CONNECTOR ATT ORNEYS Patented Mar. 3, 1.953

CABLE CONNECTOR.

Philip. (iraliinski,A Portland, Oregt,l assigner'. of.

fifty per., cent to. Robert W. Pointer, Portland,

Greg.

Application April 19, 1948; Serial NZ1;79.?fy

lfilClamS.` (.Cl. 1041-112) connectors for: connecting the-ends of.: cables, parte ticular-ly Y inelevated cableway systems.

The invention hasspecial` utility nz connectingthe; ends, of l cables which,r arefusecl as supporting cables: or tracks infarcablew-ay fortraveling vehicles; and the? like suspended from sheaves@whichv run on the cables:` In: such cablewavsrthetrack cables-f haveeheretofore;-` usually had theinV ends anchored?in:xed;supnorts such as the towers or polesvusedt'osupportstheccablewan but such `practicebre'quires. that. the p ositionssy of the". supports be determined by theflengthsrof the cables orl else that; portions: of: the cables.: be cut; ofi"4 ifo` the'. end. ofl` thercable happensl to: extenckto :avpoi'ut ,beyond a desirable location for asupport: The: anchor:- ing,` of the cableiendsf in lintermediate supports is objectionable for thefurtherreasonathatzthencable connectorssarettherebv placed'. on a verticalicurve` ofrelatively'shortradius and iredipositionfwliich is` productive ofi night. stresses;v because? of? the rather; abrnpt risingi and?. falling', of? the;V vehicle sheaves@ in` riding? over the; supportir A heavily loadedvehicle` also; produces shock or impact loa-ds on` thexcable and: its fittings inzpassingfgoven because'- the. thick-ness; or.: width; ofi' the: conneo` tor requires. the'` supportingsheavesf for.` tlietvehi cle to havewidegroovesto: passaovercthenconnect'or:. Such? connectors. commonly? require' the sheavesaztozhaveamorefthanztivicefthegroovetwidth necessaryfto. nt: the cables,.witl1 the result',l that thea sheaves. are not: properly' supper-teni onf. the cablesvandecausefdamagetoithecables.

The general. object: of: theipresent. invention; thereforetisr toi provide' a cable connector-.i which mayfb'e used in` the.' span: between fi'xedi supports solthat entire availablejvlength' ofii cabletmay bemsed;,vvhereby thesupports. will not havegtobe positioned` tov lita thecableflength. on the.. cable :out oft tont, the? spjanilength. Gtherrobiectsare to;` provide' a: cable connectorffonusehat anyinter'- mediate point: in the span',.whichwi1l maintain the continuity on the tra-cle: fori the`-` use of cable.h` way vehicles andathezlihe. to provider: azcable-connectcr for making a joint in only one of a pair of parallel cables, to provide novel-fv means, for holding; a cabletrack connector in 1 an. upright position in ,Ind=span, to `provide a.: reversible con,- nector having track surfaces ontv opposite sides thereoff to.double-the useful life of I theconnector and1 cables, and:` toi providefaeconneotorhaving track surfaces for sheaves which are groot/edito flttthetcables:`

The invention comprises cooperating connector parts whichzmay take-different forms toijoint` together: the. ends ofr twoi cables and vmaintainY the continuity of the track over the joint for sheaves which. are' grooves` tost the. cables; Since; two cables cannot be securelyA grippedandi brought together` in end: to,r end. relation.. tomaintain a continuous track. through, theV joint on:y the :ca-bles themselvea, some form off fixture must: be pro.- vided for securingthe endsofthe twofcablesnto snstaimthe. tension; and for bridging-:ann: gapbetween the upper surfaces of the. cables` where suoni surfaces must, donar-trimm ther/armut` level in order to be eiTectivelv-anchoreds Inone form of, therinvention; eye? splices are formed.r nlthe ends of the cable to receive suitablethimbles-.haw ine; ninzand plate connectors toi sustain thevcaole tension. The connector includes a shortspacer having; at rail` to; bridger the: necessary gap between the two cable eyes andfmaintainiavtrack surface?4 in: line.: with 1. theicablatraok. Oneleg. of an; invertedV Urshaped frame is attached: tov the connector assembly andthe other legbf the-frame isf attached. tow another cable;` off the; cableway: to holdthe eyesplices andiconnector partsinrverti.- calkposition: so that theesupporting sheavestusing the-'cablew-ay will rolhonzthe: edges.A oi` theatwo'feye splines` linz anothenvform'.- of; the inventiontthe; two ,cable ends withoutgsplicesare; anchored directly in the lines of.: tension irrspeoialr socket fittings. Since such lfitt-ingsfmust completely surround the cable to. l obtainf aw. secure grip thereon, suitable means havingapproximately the samerwdth as--tlhe cable must; be provided to u forni` a l trackover the; ends of the cablev which will ''taand l guide the supporting; sheaves; of: thewtravelingf vehicle: To.: meet these. requirements-r thez': connector: parts are flat:- tened in" apvertical :plana and are fattachediin.. such position toloneileg oiian lnvertedUL-shaped `frame which isi prevented from twistingi by having' its other4 legi attached-itu another" cable; of"A thecablejewayas inlthearst mentionediembodiment'. The tensioniin thercableiisgsnstained bv` a pin..connee= tor:` betweenL the; parts; Whichl anchor the` respecttive cabieendsf, .onbv-*otherrsnitablemeans:, Thus;

.f with either form of the invention, the connector `standing spar trees im.

may be applied at the end of a supporting cable or cable track without regard to the positions of the iixed supports for the cableway. In a cableway having two parallel cables it is not necessary for both cables to end at the same point, because the U-shaped frame of the connector does not have to attach to a similar connector on the other cable. The connector parts in all embodiments are reversible to turn the bottom sides of the connectors and cables uppermost after wear has occurred.

The invention will be better understood and additional objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description oi certain speciiic embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, but it is to be understood that the invention is capable of still other changes in the construction and ar rangement of parts and that all such modifications within the scope of the appended claims are included in the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation view of one form of connector assembly embodying the principles of the invention; Figure la is a sectional view of the thimble, taken approximately on the line Ia-Ia of Figure 1;

Figure 1b is a sectional view taken on the line Ib-Ib of Figure 1;

Figure 2 is an end elevation view of the assembly shown in Figure 1 with certain parts removed;

Figure 3 is a side elevation view of the spacer shown in Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 is an end elevation view of the spacer;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary enlarged top plan view of the hinge joint in the U-shaped frame, with certain parts broken away;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a side elevation view of a moded form of connector assembly;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the connector shown in Figure 7; and

Figure 9V is a side elevation view of another modication;

Figure 10 is a sectional view, taken on the line I-i'of Figure 9;

4Figure l1 is a perspective view showing the connector of Figure 1 applied at an intermediate point in a span of a cable track system.

As shown in Figures 1, 2 and 11, one embodiment of the connector is used to connect the ends vof two cables I and 2 atan intermediate point in a span between supports so that the cables I and 2 will form one track f a cable track system having another cable 3 strung equidistant from the cables i and 2 to form a parallel track. This parallel cable arrangement is used to support a cableway vehicle having certain sheaves on one side running on the cables I and 2 and other sheaves on the other side running on the cable 3. There is no ioint or break in the cable 3 opposite the connection between the cables I and 2, the nearest joint at an end of the cable 3 be'ng at a different place in the span or in a diirerent span, but it is within the scope of the invention to have both of cables i and 3 end at the saire place.

Figure il illustrates a cablevvay installation where'n the supporting towers comprise poles or At each'such pole a cable track jack Iii! is suspended by a cable |92 which is pulled a'fay from the pole by means of a lateral guy ISS. In the several spans f the Abox frame of the leg.`

cableway illustrated in Figure 11, the cables I and 3 extend continuously through the jacks I 0I, and no cable splices are made at these jacks. The cable I is seen to end at an intermediate point in the span shown in the foreground, and the present connector is employed at this point to connect the end of the cable I with the cable 2 in a novel manner to maintain a continuous cable track across the joint. The next pole may be at a considerable distance from the end of cable I,` and is equipped with a jack I0! to support the cables 2 and 3 in the same manner that the cables I and 3 are supported at the poles shown.

For use with this embodiment of the invention, the adjoining ends of the cables I and 2 are provided With eye splices ll forming cable eyes 5 and 6 which must be maintained in vertical positions so that the top edges I and 8 of the eyes will form track surfaces in continuation of the respective cables. The bottom edges of the respective cable eyes are designated by the numerals 9 and I0. The splices 4 are long splices to avoid unduly thickening the cables. the cable eyes to hold the eyes in alignment in a common plane, to support the cable in the bend of the eye in a sufficient large radius of curvature to avoid undue stress on the cable and to support the upper track portions l and S of the eyes above the other parts ofthe connector.

The thimbles II are loosely mounted on pins I5 extending between a pair of laterally spaced side plates i5. The numeral Il designates circular nuts on the ends of the pins I5, which nuts are locked to the side plates I6 by a lock bolt or screw IS which is inserted in one of a series of holes in the nut and secured in a threaded hole in the adjacent plate I6.

A spacer Eil, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, is secured between the side plates I6 and between the two cable eyes. The spacer 2l) comprises a plate 2! having slightly greater thickness than the thimbles ill and provided with a pair of bolt holes 2. Short cylindrical rails 23 and 24 are welded at 25 to the top and bottom sides of the plate 2 I, as shown, to make tracks in the gap between the cable eyes on opposite sides of the connector. The rails 23 and 24 have the same diameter as the cables I and 2 and their ends are beveled at 2t to approach closely'to the sheave supporting surfaces of the cables so that sheaves rolling on the cables will not encounter an appreciable bump in passing over the connector. A pair of bolts 27 are received in the holes 22 and in similar holes in the side plates I6 to secure the spacer 2s between the side plates, and to attach to the connector a lowervertical end portion 28 of an inverted U-shaped'frame 3-3. In Figure 2 the thimbles and cables are removed.

rlhe frame 3Q comprises two legs BI and 32 of hollow boX construction interconnected by a hinged joint S3 including a resilient bushing 34 on a bolt 35 as shown' in Figures 5 and 6. The bushing 34 whch may be of rubber is preferably compressed or squeezed into a cylindrical tube 35 which is mounted on the upper end of theleg 3| of the frame. The numeral 3'I designates a'strap passng around the tube 36 and welded to the top and bottom plates on the opposite sides of the The bolt 35 is received within the bushing Sli and has its ends mounted in a pair ci arms 33 which constitute extensions of the side fianges or plates of the hollow box construction of the leg 32. The tube 36 is preferably slightly shorter than the clearspace between the two arms e8, and the ends of the bush- Thimbles II are placed in ingl 34 extend out oftthertubestoTabutfthaarms 38 and prevent: metal` to. metal contact. between.` the parts. The; bushing; 34: snugly engagea the var:- ious parts with which it. ist assoeiaftedl tof permit relative pivotal. movementof the legs 3i and132 of the fram-e. withoutt allowing the joint:r ot.` the frametc. become loosefor tonrattle..

A.. clamp block. 4.! having. a@ cable? saddle? 4.2 is. integrally mounted on; the lowen endl ot, the leg. 32 soV that. a. cable clamp-13; equippedF with tightening. nuts.. 44. may. be. applied. thereto in an obvious manner toclamp.- the.- ca-blen3.. The. clamp: 43,- is. relatively. thin where: it. passes.- over the cable so as to offer no obstruction to sheaves rolling on. the toptside. of. the. cable.. Bothv legs 31. and 3.72 of. the uftrame': are curved outwardlyat 4,5. to clear. the. sheaves-andl axles.traveling on the cableway so that.A the sheaves wil1-.r.eaidilyl pass. throught theA frame. 3.0i The frame 3!l. is;A of.. course, open. atthe. bottombetweemthe cables; to. allow. for passage of.V thehangers andi other partscf. the. suspended vehicles. disposed between the.` cables.,

The. hinged joint. 343: between, the; two.. legs. 3L

and. 32. ofthe Lieshaped. frame allows.Y theftwo' cablesto move together on apartto adinstthem selves. to. the, spacing. of. thesupporting sheaves of. they vehicle.. atl a. considerable distance. from1 the cab1es-,. it.

does not allowfthe. cable eyes. 5t and. 5.. togtwist f toy any. appreciable extent.` out. of` a verticalrposition asv long as. the. parallel cables remain. in4 theapproximate spacing. shown: inFigure. 2.. In this way. the frame alle supported on. one side by thelconnector and. on. the. other. sidetby4 the cable- L! eiective to hold.. the eye splicesin; a. vertical position. sot-hat as. shown in Figure. 1. the top` edges l. anddthereof, togetherwiththe top rail 23, will form aA substantiallyA continuous andi straight track` surface. over which. the; rolling" sheaves may easily pass without. contacting: the'v side,4 plates IB.

By reason. of the symmetrical. construction of;

the. connector, when,the.top..sides..1 and 8.` of the-V two. cable eyes.. and. the topman-.23.- have become worn, the boltszl. maybe removed `andthe.ca-bles:

Howeven. since: the. joint.. 33t is.

I and. 2, together with the, connector; rotated.`

through iSOdegrees.. Thenthe bolts. 2.1. aretres.

placed withthe other: sidesS and` Illfof-l the cable.

eyes andthe other. rail 2 4tin. apositioniforfuse.

The life. of the cables and joint is thereby doubled.

with buta small elort andwtihout disconnecting.

the cables or replacing any of the.. parts,

ln. Figures 7 and. 8 the. principles.- of.. the invention are. applied to a, scckettype.-connector... Thecables 5l and. 52, when` connectedtogetheig. constitute one of the twoparallelcablesof. ant overhead. cable. track, as described. irnconnectifm.` with Figures, l and 2. It. isto. be; understood. therefore. that the cablesi 5L and.52. are strung. in. parallel relation with. another cable 3l and; that. the other legA ofi the ufshapedframe Sittin..

asf

slrY

Figures 5. and S is attachedtothefcable 3s. as.

The: end; of ther member: 56.2 is curved at 63 on: a: circular:` arc' concentric. withA the axis of thezbolt'; Gland: thefadjacent end oft. themember 5.1i between. the.` arms Erl isrsirnilarly. curved but to a slightlyrgreater, radius to leave aA small clear,- ance-between; theuparts. forY pivotal action on. the bolt.` i. The.4 member; 5.4; is provided on. tsf top side with aslOping; rounded edge irof theisame width` as. the.- cable 5.13,. and: the: member 5,5 is provided.' with. a'. similar edge Eze int alignment withrthe-edges 6:5 tofform track railszfcr asheave traveling over the. joint. Thus,A as each. sheave passes over; the jpint,. it is?support-edand.n guided by theirail. por-tionsffiifand'.6Eiwhichtthersheave thef same. as.. the.A cables.. The: anges of the shears. do not come in contact with the arms 5:1? or. the-thickenedaportions of the parts around thaso'ckets; 53: and 5.5. Themembers are sym?- metrical:. on. topv and bottom, havingr cppositely disposed sloping.` edgesA dis and, Se; formingv rails in.` a1. similar;A manner on. the.A bottom; side` of` the connector. The. connector.; is maintained; in: a vertical plane by a pair of cap screws 'receved in. tapped holes.; 1.4: in the. member 5A; whereby thefconnector. issecured tot thev lowerV Vertical portion ZB. of tlf1e1armr3l.V ofr the frame or yoke 353.'. Tapped holes= 'Hf arealso. provided in:` the opposite. side.: of: the.A member: 511i: so that the connector may 13e-.turned over" to? bring; the.r bottonil side: uppermostt to.` distribute the. wear on:` the cable.. and connector parts.

The connector.- and frame 3e are entirely in.- dependent.. of any iixed: support, being attached onlyr to the4 cables as. in: the rst. embodiment.

Figure- 9- shows modication: which combines certain features ci. both. they foregoing; embodiments.. 'Ehetcableez isL socketedina malefconzenestor.` fitting: 56.- of. .ther type. shown? in-L Figures; 7l andi BT In this-case.,,the otherfcabley 5l? isalso:

'e' so'oketed. ina male. connector dist-ing. 56, whereby alli the. cable.A ends have identica-l( fittings 1 making iti unnecessary to dispose the cables to mate male and' female. connector. ttngs.. The; twol rnale` fittings.. 55 anepivotally interconnected pins i 5i.V extending. between; side pla-tes.I Iii. arranged in the.. manner previously described in connection.v Withliigures. L. to 4.. A spacer. 2ilcarrying. rail sections.l 23. and. Z4; is disposed between. the side'.- platesr l5., and. the .vv-hole. assemblyis; attachedy by. bolts.. 2.?, totheanm. 3L ofa U-ramamember im. as.` shown. rEhecables and.` connector'parts may be turned.` over tor-wear onzthe. opposite. sides. without. separating` the;v cables.` by.` merely terne' porarily removing. the bolts 2l. tofturn. the rail 24 and"` track. surfaces,Y iig. uppermost.- and then.: reinsertingthebolts:Z1. Itis appa-rent that this modification. accomplishes the; objects and adm vantagesA of' the. invention. in4 substantially the.

saine manner as the previous embodiments. by

merely employing socketed connectorsin vplace ofi the eye` splice thimblesin thel assembly of Figure 1.

In. operation, the. action` and behavior: of ai cableway vehicle. in passingV over the.. present `connector in any of. its various forms. is quite.

different. from.. the.- action` ony connectors which are. mounted.. to serve.. alsoas aV support for the cable. l'lheweight of. avehicle carrying load causes` the. cable to. sag considerably. between.

steep. inclina, but.. as. the sheaves.. pass over the, support. they. mustiimmediately begin to.- descend.

.es the vehicle sheaves.

on the other side in an equally steep decline. The leading sheaves of the vehicle are thus descending while the other sheaves are still rising. On intermediate supports Where there are no connector ttings, the abrupt change in gradient of the cable is negotiated rather smoothly and without severe wear on the cable at moderate speeds. However, when connectors are incorporated in the supports in the conventional manner, there must necessarily be slight interruptions or other irregularities in the continuity of the track surface in addition to the change in slope on opposite sides of the support which cause at least slight bumping of the sheaves in passing over the solidly supported connector. IThese irregularities impose a serious limitation on the speed of load carrying vehicles because under heavy loads a relatively insignificant bump against a solid support is magnified at higher speeds into a severe pounding action which not only wears out the cable and connector parts but also constitutes a hazard to the safe passage of the vehicle.

When the connector is disposed in the span of the cable according to the present invention, rather than at a point of support, these bumps are not severe because the cable and connector parts are free and flexible to adjust themselves to make a more ideal track surface. Before the vehicle arrives at the connector the line of tension through the cables passes through the center of the connector, causing the uppermost track portions across the connector to be elevated above this line of tension which would appear to produce a bump in the track. However, since the present connector is not attached to a Xed support, it is free to be depressed by the vehicle sheaves so that they will not be lifted abruptly in passing thereover. Any irregularities in the track surface across the connector do not cause the vehicle sheaves to pound on the connector against a xed support. yThe unavoidable im-v pacts against the connector are absorbed by the resilience of the cable throughout the span length, With respect to the vehicle, the connector behaves in the same manner as the rest of the cable in the span. The present construction thereby separates the problem of connecting the cables from the problem of supporting the cables, whereby a more satisfactory connection is made because the connector does not form part of a solid support in a Xed vertical curve. Also, the life of the cable is lengthened because the supporting sheaves on the vehicle can be grooved to fit the cable properly for smooth operation. s

Having now described my invention and in what manner the same may be used, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

l. A cable connector for use in an elevated cableway system, comprising cooperating parts for connecting the ends of two cables together at an intermediate point in a span of said cable-v way, a substantially continuous track surface across the length of said connector, and an arm on said connector having a clamp for engaging another adjacent parallel cable to hold said con-V nector in a Xed rotative position relative to the axis of the connected cables with said track surface uppermost.

2. In a dual cable track having a pair of parallel cables, a connector for a jointin one of said cables at an intermediate point in a span of the cables, a track surface on said connector across said joint, a rigid arm extending from said connector, and a clamp on the other cable connected with said arm to prevent twisting of the one cable and hold said track surface in an upwardly facing position.

3. In a dual cable track having a pair of parallel cables, a connector for a joint in one of said cables at an intermediate point ina span of the cables, a track surface on said connector across said joint, a rigid arm extending upwardly from the side of said connector remote from the other cable, said arm having an upper portion extending toward said other cable, and a clamp on said other cable connected With said arm.

4. In a cable connector, means for connecting two cables end to end to form a joint at an intermediate point in a span of the cables, a track surface on said connector across said joint, a rigid lateral arm on said connector, a cable clamp disposed laterally from said connector, and a rigid support for said clamp connected with said arm.

5. In a cable connector, means for connecting two horizontal cables end to end to form a joint at an intermediate point in a span of the cables, a track surface on said connector across said joint, a rigid arm extending laterally from one side of the connector and above and across the connector, a cable clamp disposed on the opposite side of said connector, and a rigid support for said clamp connected with said arm.

6. A connector assembly for a dual cable track c-omprising connector parts for connecting the ends of two cables together at an intermediate point in a span of said cable track, a substantially continuous track surface across said connector, a YU-shaped frame having one end attached to said connector and the other end attached to the opposite cable of said dual cable track, a hinge joint in said frame to accommodate variation in the lateral spacing of said cables, and a resilient bushing in said joint.

7. A cable connector assembly comprising connector parts for connecting the ends of two cables in a cableway span remote from a support, track surfaces ontop and bottom sides of said parts to maintain a substantially continuous track across said connector assembly, and an arm on said connector having a clamp for engaging an adjacent parallelA cable to hold said connector assembly against rotation on the cable axis with either one of said track surfaces in uppermost position to support and guide a sheave across said connector assembly.

8. In a cable connector, means for connecting two horizontal cables end to end to form a joint at an intermediate point in a span of the cables, longitudinal track surfaces on top and bottom sides of said connector aligned with the connected cables, an offset upright arm on one side of said connector having an upper portion extending across the connector to the opposite side of the connector, a cable clamp disposed on said opposite side of the connector, and a rigid support for said clamp connected with said arm.

9. A connector assembly for an intermediate point in a span of a cableway comprising a cable eye connector adapted to hold the eyes in Vtwo connected cables in a common plane with the edges of said eyes forming tracksurfaces in continuation of said cables, an arm extending from said connector, and a clamp on said arm to engage another adjacent parallel cable of said cableway and hold the plane of said eyes in a vertical position.

10. A cable track connector comprising a pair of cable eye thimbles arranged to hold a pair of cable eyes at an intermediate point in a cable span in a common plane with the edges of said eyes forming track surfaces on opposite sides of said connector, and rail sections on opposite sides of said connector extending between said edges so that said connector and track cables may be turned over to wear on opposite sides thereof.

11. A connector assembly for a cableway comprising a socket connector for joining together the ends of two cables, said connector being supported by said cables at an intermediate point in a span of the cableway, a track surface extending the length of said connector, an arm extending from said connector, and a clamp on said arm to engage another adjacent parallel cable of said cableway to hold said connector in a rotative position with said track surface on the top side thereof.

12. A cable track connector comprising a pair of pin connected socket members secured to the ends of track cables at an intermediate point in a span of the cables, and track surfaces extending the length of said connector on opposite sides thereof so that said connector and track cables may be turned over to wear on their opposite sides.

13. A mid span cable track connector comprising a pair of pin connected socket members secured to the ends of track cables, and track surfaces having the same width as said cables extending the length of said connector on opposite sides thereof.

14. A cable track connector comprising a pair of identical pin and link connected socket members secured to the ends of track cables at an intermediate point in the span of the cables, and track surfaces having the same width as said cables extending the length of said connector on two opposite sides thereof.

15. A cable track connector comprising a. pair of identical connector members for adjacent ends of track cables, pin and link connector means for uniting said members at an intermediate point in the span of the cables, a track surface onsaid connector having the same Width as said cables, an arm on said link having a portion extending laterally and horizontally from the link, and a clamp on said arm to engage another cable adjacent and parallel with the connected cables and hold said track surface portion of the connector uppermost.

16. A cable track connector assembly comprising connector members for joining the ends of two cables at an intermediate point in the span of the cables, track surfaces on two opposite sides of said connector assembly having the saine width as the cables, a frame member having a clamp for attachment to another adjacent parallel cable, and means for attaching said connector assembly to said frame member in two different positions to place either one of said track surfaces uppermost without disconnecting said` cable ends from the connector assembly.

PHILIP GRABINSKI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 343,319 Jenkin June 8, 1886 1,419,684 Neller June 13, 1922 1,941,964 Zapf Jan. 2.', 1934 2,349,263 Grabinski May 23, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 248,790 Germany July l, 1912 

